Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1887-07-23

good, too. I was IL years old when
killed my first Indian. 1t happened rather
sudden. was walking out by the river,
near Folt Kearney, one night about 10
o'clock. My companions had got on ahead
somehow, and l was quite alone, when
looking up toward the bluff bordering
the river, I saw, illuminated by the
moon, the head and shoulders of living
Indian, watching me with evident interest.
Now, had heard many stories of the do
ings of the red men, and had also been in
culcated with a thorough distrust of their
ways; SO, quickly coming to conclusion
as to what should do, brought my gun
to my shoulder, and, aiming at the head,
fred. The report sounded louder than
usual in the silence of the night, far it was
past 10 o'clock, and was followed by war
whoop, such as could only be built up by
an Indian, and the next instant over six
feet of dead Indian came down splash into
the river.
Soon after this I went to business. I
took to the plains, and in the employ Of
Messrs. Russell d Simpson soon learned
the ms and outs of the wild life led with
horses and cattle driving teams, riding ex-
press ponies, and getting. to know the
land. Among other things I somehow
found out Low to hunt bufaloes, sport
second to none, if you know how. shall
never forget the faces Of five officers l met
on the prairies once, now many years ago.
They were after herd of buffaloes. So
was I. We exchanged views. gave them
my ideas; they gave me their sympathy.
You surely don't expect to catch butfaloes
with that gothic steed," said they.
II am going to try" I said.
you'll never do it. man alive" said the
Captain. ut wants fast horse to hunt
buffalo"
"Does it2" responded.
aYes; but you can come with US If you
like"
And 1 did like. There were eleven buff
faloes in the herd, and, while the officers
rode straight at them, headed the leaders
and got up to them with ease. The horse
which my companion had been chatting
was the famous Brigham, who knew as
much about the sport as did; he speedily
did his part of the business. A few jumps
brought us up to the herd. Raising "Lu-
cretia Borgia," my trusty weapon, I aimed
at the first animal, fred, and brought him
down, Brigham, like the ideal animal
that he was, carrying me rapidly up to the
next brute, not ten feet away; and, when I
had dropped him, bounded on to the next,
and so on, until I had slain the whole
eleven animals, and then my horse stopped.
/ dismounted to regard my work with
feeling of satisfaction. Those officers rode
up shortly, and I shall never forget their
expressions as they surveyed the work of
five minutes living around.
My horse Brigham was an exceptionally
intelligent brute. He took the keenest de-
light in sport, and Invariably took pains to
aid me in getting game. All he expected
of me was to do the shooting; the rest was
his work. He would always stop if the
buffalo did not fall at the first shot, so as
to give me second chance; but if did not
bring him down then, he would 60 on dis
gusted.
It was in 1867 that the Kansas Pacific
track was in the buffalo country, and the
company was employing over twelve hum
dred men in the making of the road. The
Indians were very troublesome, and it was
not always easy to get sufficient supplies
of fresh meat for the men. It was about
this time that Messrs. Goddard, the con-
tractors to the constructors, made me
handsome offer, provided would under
take to hunt for them. They required
twelve buffaloes per diem. The work was
somewhat dangerous, owing to the Indians,
but the terms were handsome hundred
per month. took the offer, and in less than
eighteen months, during which time my
engagement lasted, killed 1880 buffaloes
single handed, and had many scrimmages
with the Indians. and hair breadth escapes.
It was during this period of my career that
I had my celebrated buffalo killing match
with Billy Comstock, the noted scout, then
ct Fort Wallace. The terms were settled
as follows: We were to hunt one day Of
eight hours, from eight a. m. to four D. m.
The stakes were $500 side, and the man
who killed the most buffa1oes was to be de-
clared the winner. The contest took place
twenty miles east from Sheridan, and many
people came from all parts to see
The sport We were fortunate in finding
lnimals, and had plenty of sport. We made
!hree runs each, and I killed sixty mine
buffaloes, my rival being content with forty
nix. Not bad days work-a day which is
IN historical one for me, inasmuch as since
hen have invariably been referred to in
Ill parts of the civilized world as Buffalo |
Bill.